Yankees' Brett Gardner will use protective ring on thumb for rest of season

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerBrett Gardner, right, has endured occasional flare-ups of soreness in his left thumb since breaking it last season.

NEW YORK — Every time he’s swung the bat since spraining his left thumb last week in Baltimore, Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner has used a protective plastic ring that fits around his thumb.

He admits that the ring still feels strange on his hand, especially when he’s in the act of swinging the bat. Like most big-league players, Gardner would rather not deal with anything that could inhibit his swing.

Nevertheless, Gardner said he plans to use the added protection for the rest of the season.

“It’s a little awkward and uncomfortable,” said Gardner, who missed two games before returning to action on Saturday. “But anything to stay on the field.”

Since breaking his left thumb last season, Gardner said he’s endured occasional flare-ups of soreness. He said those can sometimes be brought on when he must hold the bat back on check swings, or when he gets jammed by pitches inside.

But the protective ring absorbs some of the impact from getting jammed, which Gardner said is a worthwhile tradeoff. So far, he seems to be adjusting just fine.

On Sunday, in his first plate appearances with the protective ring, Gardner went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks. He also stole a base, knocked in a run and scored one of his own to help the Yankees down the Astros, 9-5.

Oscar Azocar, a free-swinging outfielder when he debuted for the Yankees in 1990, died today near Valencia, Venezuela. He was 45.